Patent GB-191126132-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Circular Knitting Machines.
Inventor: JOHNSON JAMES YATE
IPC: D04B9/46
Filed: 1911-11-22
Granted: 1912-11-21
Abstract: 26,132. Johnson, J. Y., [Scott & Williams]. Nov. 22. Circular machines.- Relates to machines for the production of seamless hosiery, either as a long tube with heels and toes at intervals, or as independent articles knitted on to rib tops applied to the needles at the commencement of each cycle of operations. The needle cylinder normally rotates and the cam cylinder is normally stationary but is given a small movement at the end of each reciprocation of the needle cylinder in order to give the stitch cam the proper lead. The driving-gear includes a changemotion train controlled by a pattern disk on the cam shaft. A cam 29, Fig. 1, on the same shaft lifts the cylinder into the setting-on position after the completion of a cycle of operations, through connexions 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27. A second cam 30 holds a cylinder 33 carrying take-up rolls 31, 32 in gear with a rotary sleeve 16 by means of teeth 34 during tubular knitting, but allows the parts 16, 33 to disengage during reciprocation. The rolls 31, 32 are actuated during tubular knitting by a ratchet 47, the pawl driving means for which run over a fixed cam ring 50. The stitch cam for each feed is a single member fixed to a cam ring, and the corresponding yarn-guide is given the necessary lead at each reversal of motion by shifting the cam ring, which is connected by levers to an arm 60, Fig. 12, controlled by a cam 61<a>. The cam 61<a> is mounted on an arm 66, Fig. 11, which during reciprocation is clutched to the boss of an arm 63 rocked by the change-motion gear. The clutching movement is accomplished as the machine changes from rotary to reciprocating motion by means of a grooved cam 74, Fig. 1, acting on a lever 75 to rotate a shaft 73, Fig. 11, carrying a pin 72 into the position shown. The pin 72 drives a key 67 into engagement with notches on the hubs of the arms 63, 66, thus locking them together. The rotation of the shaft 73 also lowers a switch cam 80, Fig. 15, into engagement with the instep needles, by rocking a sleeve 92 connected by a feather to a cap 97 connected to which is a spring-pressed shaft 95 carrying the cam 80. A key 100 plays with sufficient clearance in a recess in the bearing 94 to permit the cap 97 to be withdrawn from the sleeve 92 while the switch 80 is in the position shown, but when the switch is lowered a pin 102 on the sleeve 92 works in an inclined slot and draws the key 100 sufficiently far into its recess to prevent the disengagement of the parts 92, 97. To permit of the rib top being run on, the stitch cam 55, Fig. 17, is mounted so as to move radially away from the needles under control of a hand-lever 110 after the needlecylinder has been thrown up. The stitch cam 55 is held out of engagement with the needles by a trigger 114 which is normally held out of action, but is released when the latch guard 104 is raised to free a pin 119 on a spring controlled lever 116 which has a set screw 115 bearing on the trigger. The same movement projects a bolt 120 and prevents the lowering of the needle cylinder by the full amount until the latch guard ring is replaced. The yarn-feeding attachment comprises a number of parallel feeders 121 of the shape shown in Fig. 36, and mounted on a common pivot 122, Fig. 22. The feeders are thrown forward by the pressure of adjustable levers 125 on the toes 127 and are returned by springs. The rearward extensions 124 lie flush with the latch guard in the projected position. The levers 125 are rocked by means of a pattern drum 128 with removable tappets. The drum is intermittently rotated by ratchet mechanism which can be put out of action and is driven from a cam on the driving-shaft. The pawl-carrying arm 135, Fig. 30, has a second pawl 145 which when the latch-guard ring is raised is engaged by the lug 126 carrying the levers 125, the ratchet mechanism being thus put out of action. When the latch guard is returned to position the pawl 145 is held clear by a guard-plate 147. For splicing purposes a selected feeder can be caused to knit for a fraction of each revolution, independently of the pattern drum 128. A lever 155 is mounted on a slide 156, which can be adjusted horizontally to bring the lever against the particular feeder 121 it is desired to operate. During reciprocation, a cam acting on a slide 168 causes the upper end of the lever 155 to project the corresponding feeder into feeding position, the slide 156 being held for this purpose by an upper end of an arm 161, the tail 163 on the lower end of which is engaged by a cam 162. This cam is mounted on a ring 83 which is shifted into acting position at the first reversal of motion. A thread-cutting and clamping attachment is mounted by means of an arm 171, Figs. 33 and 34, on the latch ring, and comprises a yarn directing finger 172, a clamp 173 consisting of a cranked arm, the pivot 175 of which carries an arm 177 and a movable shear blade 179 cooperating with a fixed blade 183 and worked by a lever 180, Fig. 22, controlled by the drum 128. The shear slide 178 carries a pin 184 which when the shears are open depresses the arm 177 and opens the clamp 173. When a yarn-feeder goes out of action, its yarn is carried round under the directing-finger 172, and the clamp 173 and is directed downward by a guide 186 between the shear blades. The lever 180 is then operated by its tappet to cut the yarn, the cut end of which is then trapped by the descent of the clamp. The lifting-pickers for fashioning comprise pivoted bars 190, Figs. 41 and 44, with needle - engaging portions 199, mounted on posts 191, the bases of which are provided with flats 193 acted upon as shown in Fig. 48, by spring-pressed plungers. The posts 191 also carry spring-pressed plungers 195 which act on flats 196 on the hubs of the bars 190. When a picker end 199 is struck by a needle, the bar 190 rides on a cam 197 and lifts the needle into the inactive position. During tubular knitting, one of the pickers is held down as shown in Fig. 41, by a cam 198 at the back of the stitch cam 55, the other picker being free and out of range of the needles. The movement prior to reciprocation of the stitch cam to give the yarn feeders the necessary lead disengages the picker shown in Fig. 41, which is then free to operate and holds down the opposed picker. This action is repeated at each reversal of motion, first one and then the other picker being put into action. The needles thrown out of action are levelled up to facilitate the operation of the widening- picker by means of a cam 221 mounted on and above the stitch cam 55. The widening picker comprises an arm 205, Figs. 52 and 56, mounted on a ball and socket joint 206 and thrown into action at the end of narrowing operation by the inward movement of a slide 212 which brings a plate 209 below the picker, in the path of a cam 219 on the cam ring 56. The movement of the cam 50, Fig. 1, to give the yarn feed the necessary lead elevates the picker, as shown, into contact with the end inactive needle. The shank of the picker passes between a pair of spring-pressed hooked plates 208, and the sideways movement of the picker, under influence of the end inactive needle, causes the shank to slide down one of the plates 208 as shown in Fig. 56, and lower the needle. The needle cylinder 222, Fig. 59, is provided with detachable leaves 226 which fit in grooves 225, the upper ends of the leaves being bevelled as shown, and held up against the tricked upper portion 227 by a base ring 223, the bearing-flange 233 of which is also bevelled. The ends of the web-holders are carried by tricked rings 235, 238 mounted on the inside and outside respectively of the head of the cylinder. The web - holder cams are mounted with provision for adjustment radially on a ring 239 on which spring-controlled plungers carried by the latch guard-ring bear and hold the cylinder down against the lift of the stitch cam.